Author Topic: AirwaySim v.1.3 news, previews & info (Read 107399 times)

Sami · « **on:** November 08, 2010, 12:52:17 PM »

The development of next AirwaySim game engine (v.1.3) has started during the previous month, with a relatively slow pace for now though. The present v.1.2 source is considered "closed" now after some housekeeping and minor fixing was made, and from now on all the updates and fixes are made to the next version only.

V.1.3 will be again a minor release, and actually (the same with v.1.2) the reason to update to new "official" version is because some changes and features require a new source platform. All of the game worlds of certain version use the same / combined source code at the servers - and some larger updates cannot be made without a new version as it would otherwise disrupt the existing worlds. Such changes are for example changes to passenger flow dynamics and such "core" functions. As you've seen minor features and tweaks can be (and are) added to running worlds constantly. So to sum up the version 1.3 will be introduced since some structural changes are made but it won't contain any breathtaking features. But as before there's a flow of regular tweaks and updates too.

Plans are currently for example (but not limited to...) for the following changes:

- changes to airline founding / creation
- technical possibility for AI airlines
- improved aircraft storage system
- changes to slot systems (?)
- changes to pax distribution algorithm (?)
- updates to price management features
- updates to cabin configuration systems
- a heavy data update with historical aircraft, prototype aircraft and cargo in mind (for future versions)
- time permitting an update to the visuals of the game interface
... etc.

Thread for comments / questions etc. is here https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,26358.0.html

Sami · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2010, 12:53:16 PM »

Update log, AirwaySim v.1.3

Listing of updates and changes made so far. This thread will be updated with news and progress reports.

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* "All time PAX transported" statistic added to airline information. And also to "Airline Statistics" page.

* 2-letter IATA airline identification codes added, with the possibility to choose from Settings page which code is displayed in different pages (similar to ICAO/IATA selector).

* Dynamic airline signature banners updated (data positions changed and more data added).

* Possibility for "prototype aircraft models" is added. This means that selected game worlds can have aircraft available that were not produced in reality (like MD-12). Data collection is pending for this feature.

* Aircraft models added (* denotes a prototype model):

   - Antonov An-158
   - Xian MA600
   - Antonov An-10, Antonov An-10A
   - Pilatus PC-12, Pilatus PC-12/45, Pilatus PC-12/47, Pilatus PC-12/47E, Pilatus PC-12NG
   - Armstrong Whitworth AW.55 Apollo (*)
   - Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy Mk 100, Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy Mk 200, Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy Mk 220
   - Aviation Traders ATL-90 Accountant Mk I, Aviation Traders ATL-90 Accountant Mk II (*)
   - de Havilland DH.106 Comet models 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A (*), 4B, 4C
   - Handley Page Herald Mk.600 (*)
   - Hunting Percival P.66 President
   - Baade 152 (*)
- Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer Srs. 1, 2, 3
- Vickers 953C Merchantman (cargo, testing only so far...)

Sami · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2010, 02:41:58 PM »

Unfortunately some bad news, my main PC has died, and I'm unable to work anything at the moment (well do have the laptop, but that's for backups and mobile use only). Reinstalling all stuff will take some days = some further delays to development from this. (no data lost though)

Sami · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2010, 05:14:40 PM »

Now back in business ...

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* Airport vs. Aircraft size class restrictions added:

   - Airline cannot operate a size class 'very large' aircraft into airport that is size class 2 (Small) or below.
   - Airline cannot operate a size class 'large' aircraft into airport that is size class 1 (Insignificant).

   => In other words this is a simple solution for those occasional B747 operations into small regional airports (which can happen occasionally in real life, but not all the time).

* Added custom setting to enable certain aircraft models to operate to certain airports, ie. "London City feature".

   - A handwritten list of aircraft size classes, aircraft fleet groups, or aircraft models that are only allowed at certain airport.
   - Only LCY data is added here so far, please post info if there are other such special-case airports.

* The airport info view shows the allowed models; if not shown all are allowed. Route open/edit menu also shows only those types that are allowed. And respective to the game year etc. of course.

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Sami · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2010, 09:21:20 PM »

* Engine variants for each aircraft model have now separate launch dates too. In other words when the model, for example Viscount 700, has been launched it comes only with the basic engine variant (RR Dart Mk.505 in case of Viscount). Then some time ahead (according to real data) the further engine developments (Dart Mk.506) come available.

- There is no separate 'launch period' for the engine variants, they just become available at certain date and are available for ordering from that date onwards. Previous orders can also be edited according to the normal editing rules with the new engines (fees apply).

- Old engine variants do not expire, the whole engine variant selection goes until the model production is stopped.

- Data for this feature is not inserted yet (apart from Viscount and a couple of other early models), so feature may be incomplete with the first v.1.3 games but technically it's done.

Sami · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2010, 03:48:33 PM »

* Added the technical capability to handle cargo-only aircraft. = Disabled seat configuration possibilities from such planes and otherwise updated the interface to understand aircraft with pax capacity of zero.

- According to present plans however cargo will NOT be a feature yet, this is just preparation of the things. I am thinking of making the cargo to be the first feature that runs on the 'city based demand' concept, IF it will work out.

- If and when cargo feature won't be available, there's also a game setting that allows to hide all cargo-only planes.

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Sami · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2010, 09:10:35 PM »

* Engine variant launch dates are now covered by Dashboard news.

* Some minor bugfixes (ref. bug reports) have been made for v.1.3 source.

* Ability to 'quick close' routes from Manage Routes pages is updated to have two options, one with 'close & release slots' and another 'close routes & keep slots'.

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Sami · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2010, 10:49:00 PM »

* Added alliance livery.

* Added alliance description (basic HTML like bold, italic, underline allowed .. no links, images or other external content).

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Sami · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2010, 01:21:57 PM »

* Added new game rule (v.1.3) that prevents slot misuse on high demand routes: Each airline is allowed to have a maximum of 40 daily departures to each destination (on average) per each weekday. This is a 'hard limit' on all routes, not depending on the true route demand or anything (would be too complicated). Just a simple rule to prevent endlessly routing 50 seater planes to a route with 10 000 pax demand...

* Added new chart to Routes area front page, giving a general overview on route revenues and costs and their relation.

* Added the same chart to Route Information (route detail) pages.

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Sami · « **Reply #9 on:** January 02, 2011, 10:37:36 PM »

Back after Xmas break .. (although still on holiday, but a few new features)

* PNG logos and airline liveries now allowed.

* New major feature, 'online logo creator'.

   - Allows users to create their airline logo fully online directly from web browser.

   - Allows selection of background color, border color and border width, logo image, and two rows of text.

   - All image and logo elements are fully freely draggable and movable; they can be placed anywhere in the logo.

   - All text elements are fully customizable, font size, font color and also font type.

   - Live preview of the logo is shown and user sees the preview of the logo immediately when making a change.

   - Various fonts and logo images directly available from the system.

   - Logo saved in PNG format (= can be saved to user's HDD for later uploading too)

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Sami · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2011, 09:26:40 PM »

* Direct aircraft comparison selections added to new & used aircraft pages.

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Sami · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2011, 11:25:12 PM »

* Left-hand navigation menu can be now minimized/maximized.

- If you minimize it, the setting will be saved and it affects all further page loads under Game Area.

- (contains also nice & smooth animation effects....)

- In the future the airline money, game clock etc. are planned to be placed elsewhere. So users can then benefit of full screen width since the left-hand menu items are already included as dropdowns in main menu, and other left-hand menu content will be placed elsewhere. But with this hide/show feature users can choose to use this oldstyle menu too if they like.

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Sami · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2011, 04:00:35 PM »

* New airport statistic, "total transported passengers, this year & previous year", shown at airport info pages.

* Airport slot handling changed a bit; the slot number calculation is not "live" anymore but calculated on background. This means merely that once year changes the airport slot numbers are not updated on Jan 1st but during the following month or so (bit by bit).

* 'Airline statistics' page renamed to 'Statistics'.

* Added a collection of airport related stats to 'Statistics' page. Including:

   - Total passengers this year
   - Total passengers prev. year
   - Number of average hourly departures (during airport opening hrs)
   - % of slots used

   - Each stat has associated country flag shown, and max 400 top airports of each category is shown. (Screenshot has limited info, I have only 2 routes in the test server game world.....)

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Sami · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2011, 06:18:58 PM »

* Game clock on the left-hand submenu now auto-updates itself. In other words the clock is running 'live' now, even if you do not reload the page. And also when the time hits 23:59 the clock system reloads automatically the info for the new day (weekday, day number, airline money..).

* 'Airline settings' page is renamed as 'Settings'.

* Added national flags to 'Airport destinations' list page.

* Added national flags to various places where country can be selected from a dropdown list, and various other places.

* Added aircraft fleet/type/reg to 'Manage Routes -> Delay view' page.

* 'new style tooltips' added also to 'Manage Routes' and 'Marketing' pages .. now included on all pages & no more of those old gray tooltips.

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Sami · « **Reply #14 on:** January 10, 2011, 11:27:57 AM »

* Settings page is divided into tabs .. making the page more clear and easier to understand.

* 'Total produced' column (= all planes in use + for sale + in storage + scrapped) added to 'Global aircraft stats' page.

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Sami · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2011, 10:43:17 PM »

* Used aircraft buy/lease page has now a direct input for a/c registration #.

* Settings page allows you to preset the 'default turn-around' time also for (new) planes (fleet groups) that are in order, but none delivered yet. (previously this was possible only after first plane was delivered) .. in the pic the AW650 fleet for example is still on order and due in 5 months, but setting is available for route preplanning purposes.

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Sami · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2011, 05:00:04 PM »

* New feature: Automated aircraft registration numbers.

   - Briefly described; you can set the desired reg# format at Settings page for each fleet group and each base country.

   - When you order used planes, or new planes are delivered, the reg# is automatically assigned according to this setting. (System tries to find the first free slot, by creating a running list of registrations that start from the one you have given at settings page.)

   - The setting becomes available once even one plane from a particular fleet group is on order or in present operation (or for sale by you).

   - A bit more details on usage here: https://www.airwaysim.com/forum/index.php/topic,23406.msg142204.html#msg142204

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Sami · « **Reply #17 on:** January 12, 2011, 08:16:09 PM »

FYI; Just made some housekeeping to facilitate the installation of v.1.3 systems (much) later on.

Please report if some functions do not work anymore after the update (but prior to that clear the browser cache to be sure).

Sami · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2011, 05:49:56 PM »

Another FYI; I'm in the process of upgrading to another software development solution and version control solution and this will take some days to learn etc. So no updates expected in a while.

Sami · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2011, 04:15:50 PM »

* The 'online logo designer' app is now finished with the addition of about 200 logo images.

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